The Split in the Republican Party

Tara Setmayer, David French, Hena Doba

The Republican Party is no longer a unified movement — it’s a coalition under strain. Tech billionaires promote libertarian ideals and deregulation. MAGA loyalists double down on grievance politics and loyalty to Trump. Traditional fiscal conservatives push for limited government and tax cuts, while culture warriors stoke confrontation on social issues. These factions share a political banner but not always a vision, leaving the GOP’s priorities fractured and its future uncertain. This panel examines the party’s identity crisis, exploring how internal divisions are reshaping the right and, with it, the future of American politics.

The Split in the Democratic Party

Jim Kessler, Waleed Shahid, Hena Doba

The Democratic Party is increasingly defined by its internal divide. The recent face-off between progressive Zohran Mamdani and establishment figure Andrew Cuomo in New York wasn’t just a local race — it was a national signal flare. Across the country, Democrats are split on core questions: how far left to go, whether to prioritize bold transformation or pragmatic governance, and who their base really is. As progressives push for sweeping change and party leaders urge caution, the cracks are showing in fundraising, messaging, and turnout. This panel examines how these fractures are reshaping the party’s coalition — and what they mean for Democrats’ ability to build a unified front in 2026, 2028, and beyond.

The Split in Generation Z

Rachel Janfaza, Victor Shi, Christian Paz

For decades, the majority of young Americans entered political life on the left. Gen Z is different. Shaped by wildly divergent experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, online life, and a disturbing rise in political violence, Gen Z has emerged as a politically fragmented generation. While some are driving progressive movements on climate, racial justice, and student debt, others are embracing traditional conservative values and returning to organized religion at rising rates. Exploring how geography, class, and even high school graduation year form generational fault lines, this panel examines the issues that are redefining what it means to be young and politically engaged in America today. What has scrambled the political calculus for young people in America? Why are their voting patterns changing? How will the recent escalation of political violence, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, affect the ideological trajectory of the most diverse, online generation in American history?

Rural Vs. Urban - The Growing Divide that Threatens Democracy

Suzanne Mettler, Trevor Brown, EJ Dionne

The fiercest political divide in America today might not be red vs. blue — but rural v. urban. From voting patterns to cultural identity, geography has become destiny. This panel unpacks how decades of place-based inequality, deregulation, and culture war politics turned geography into a battleground. Once, both parties competed for voters in cities and small towns alike. Now, many rural communities see urban centers as symbols of elite detachment, while cities view rural America as a base for reactionary politics. With evangelical churches, anti-abortion movements, and gun rights groups cementing GOP dominance in rural regions, Republicans are leveraging this divide for institutional power — fueling an asymmetry that could threaten the foundations of democracy. Can Democrats rebuild trust outside city centers? And what will it take to bridge a divide that cuts through every state, every region, and every level of governance?